Mr. Parker

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The writer, an adolescent girl, takes piano lessons from Mr. Parker, who commutes to a job in Wall St., & gives lessons on the side - for pleasure. She loves the Victorian house where the Parkers live. Mrs. Parker dies suddenly in October. The girl continues her lessons, after a few weeks. Her mother feels she is too old to go to Mr. Parker's house now that he is alone. But she insists. Her mother questions her about Mr. Parker's behavior & worries that he might "touch" her. One day she plays a selection just right & Mr. Parker takes her by the shoulders and says, "That's perfect!". Later, going home, she is sad. She had performed like an adult, and had been congratulated by an adult, but something had been closed off. She cried like a baby. He had touched her after all.